A banknote collector recently contacted me with an interesting question. He asked if I had an English translation for the text written on the back of the old 100 kroon Estonian banknote. I must admit I didn't know the answer off the top of my head, but I soon found out!
The extract is taken from the poem 'Unenägu' (Dream) written by Estonian poet Lydia Koidula.
English translation
United stand the ends of the bridge (Silla otsad ühendatud)
Bearing a single fatherland (Kandes ühte isamaad)
The truth´s temple hallowed … (Tõe templiks pühendatud …)
Dream – when shalt thou become true?! (Nägu – millal tõeks saad?!)
'Unenägu' (Dream) was written by Lydia Koidula in 1881.
